CHOCOLATE ORANGE RASPBERRY CAKE

A chocolate orange raspberry cake on a plate.

As many of you know, I’m not the baker in the family. My husband is the one that toils away with the flour and sugar…and chocolate, of course. This is his latest triumph. The cake is moist and the orange and raspberry give it a great zesty flavor. I’m not a huge chocolate cake fan,…

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I LONG TO LIVE IN A NANCY MEYERS MOVIE

A group of movies on a table.

Heading toward the jagged coastline, a mourning dove flies over the terracotta roof tiles that cover the elegant Spanish Colonial homes of Santa Barbara. To the east, the Santa Ynez Mountains rise dramatically from the town, offering majestic vistas of a crisp clear blue sky kissing the aquamarine waters of the Pacific Ocean. Seductive Brazilian…

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CHAR SIU SLICED PORK CHOP

A red plate with meat and rice on it.

I have been known to walk miles in search of good Char Siu (Chinese Roast Pork). Its sweet and sticky sauce is about as naughty as any food should be, but of course, that’s what makes it so irresistible. My friend Grace introduced me to a great place down in NY’s Chinatown (Big Wong) where…

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THE GREAT BARBECUE CRAWL

Southern bbq slow smoked sign.

I’m on a mission to visit all 50 states and I’m getting fairly close. So when a family wedding brought us out of the comfort of our Brooklyn home into the backcountry of Arkansas, I saw an opportunity to scratch off a few states on my list. I convinced my husband that a road trip…

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LASAGNA LOAF

Lasagna in a baking dish on top of a stove.

If you’re like me, sometimes the bargains at Costco are just too much to pass up. The other day I bought an enormous container of ricotta and a one-pound brick of mozzarella with hopes of making a big pan of lasagna. But the party plans fizzled out and as much as I like lasagna, eating…

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THANKSGIVING LEFTOVER PATTIES

A white plate with cranberry sauce on it.

Last year, my plans for a big Thanksgiving dinner got squashed because half of my guests came down with Covid the day before. I had dinner for eight all ready to go, but there were only three of us on hand to consume my feast. Needless to say, as the days went on, I had…

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FRESH CRANBERRY SAUCE

Homemade Red Cranberry Sauce for the Holidays.

It wasn’t until I was in my twenties that I realized cranberry sauce does not have to come out of a can. And once you’ve used fresh cranberries, you’ll never go back to canned again. This is such a simple recipe, there really is no excuse not to make it for Thanksgiving. And the beauty…

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IT’S WORTH THE SIDE TRIP

A sign with corn stalks and a cornfield.

One of the perks of being a TV food producer is that you get to eat at some fantastic places. Once while visiting Nashville, I was encouraged to check out the Café Loveless Motel — an out-of-the way spot with the most fantastic country breakfasts sure to clog each and every artery. Country ham with…

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EASY POTATO WEDGES

Baked potato wedges on a baking sheet.

I’m always looking for a quick and easy side dish. These potato wedges are a perfect accompaniment for most chicken or meat dishes. They’re reminiscent of French fries, but baked without all the fat from deep-frying. They still come out crispy on the outside and they have a bit of a zing from the spices.…

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THE POWER OF BARBRA

A woman singing into a microphone in front of a crowd.

There truly are moments you remember all your life. On a blustery fall day in 1968, for some inexplicable reason, my mom wanted to take me to the movies to see a picture called Funny Girl. Me, and not my brothers—this was a first! We arrived early at the theater and my mom said we…

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